Fabris remembers the January conversation vividly. How Dobbs' sleepy eyes suddenly awakened. And how differently the evaluation of Dobbs read on the next day's report.

"He dominated from then on," Fabris said.

Dobbs earned "Top Dawg" distinction, given to the Georgia players who scored highest in the offseason conditioning drills. He followed up with a strong spring practice, culminating in Saturday's G-Day scrimmage. Dobbs had three tackles, including one for a loss.

The Savannah native's future as a Bulldog will be determined over the next four months, Fabris said. Dobbs is heading into his third season with the football team. He understands the proper technique and his role in Georgia's scheme.

But just as it was with the offseason conditioning program, Dobbs needs to push himself over the summer to contend for playing time this fall.

"It's time for him to take it to another level, to become more consistent, more mature," Fabris said. "It's been my experience that guys that get to that stage either fall off or accelerate."

Stepping up his game

Dobbs plans to put his foot on the gas. Mainly a special teams contributor last fall, he is one of a half-dozen players competing at defensive end.

Roderick Battle returns on one side, but the other spot is open with the departure of Marcus Howard, the 2007 Southeastern Conference sack leader. Fabris said no player comes out of spring as "head and shoulders" above the others, and anticipates rotating several players at both ends.

Dobbs longs to be in that mix. "The only expectation I have is to see the field," he said. "If I see the field on defense, it will all be good."

Fabris' challenge earlier this year could prove a turning point in Dobbs' Georgia career.

Picking up football

For Dobbs, football was once "just something to try out."

He grew up at the Bethesda Home for Boys, which didn't have a football program at the time. Dobbs picked up football quickly once he transferred to Calvary Day as a ninth-grader. His size and athleticism made him an immediate star at the Class A level, and he learned the game as he went along.

By his senior season, he weighed 260 pounds but remained quick enough to play linebacker and tight end for the Cavaliers. He dominated, leading Calvary to a 6-4 record and earning first-team All-Greater Savannah honors at tight end.

Georgia signed him, intent on putting more weight on him and moving him to defensive end.

Adjusting to college

The learning curve proved steep. He redshirted as a freshman and focused on special teams last fall while learning the position.

"Coming into it, I really didn't know what to expect," Dobbs said. "It was my first time playing defensive end and I'd never played football at this level. I just want to feel with each thing I do I'm getting better and progressing."

He admits he feels that way now. He started opposite Battle on the White team defense, which faced the first-team offense led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno, for Saturday's spring game.

Head coach Mark Richt mentioned Dobbs, along with several other defensive ends, in his post-scrimmage comments.

Dobbs hopes he can make the coach's grade come August.

"I don't feel like I've come completely into my own yet," Dobbs said. "I want to be on the field, give it my all and whatever happens, happens."